A skyway gives easy access to this former mountaintop fortress
Puerto Plata is one of the most popular resort areas in the Dominican Republic; with dozens of upscale resorts lining surf washed sandy beaches. And for a break from sand and sun, vacationers can ride the Caribbean’s only aerial tramway. Rising some 2,600 feet above city and sea, Mount Isabel de Torres dominates the coastline. The summit was once bristled with cannons and anti-aircraft guns installed during the Trujillo Era.
In the early 1970s, a project to transform this former military installation included the creation of a botanical garden and the installation of a mile- long cable car. Today, mountaintop overlooks the once sprouted gun barrels now covered in exotic greenery, and the domed top of a central pillbox is adorned with a statue of Christ the Redeemer. The cable car, known as the Teleférico de Puerto Plata, operates daily, but locals will advise an early visit to the peak, as clouds often roll in by afternoon.
